Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team renews pledge to keep up search for missing Halifax man Martin Rhodes on the one year anniversary of his disappearance in the Great Wilderness in Wester Ross
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THE mysterious disappearance of a walker in the Great Wilderness a year ago has not been forgotten by mountain rescuers, who are determined to keep up the search.
Martin Rhodes (46), from Halifax, vanished while walking in Wester Ross on May 1 last year.
He was last seen leaving his holiday accommodation in Kinlochewe that morning with the intention of walking in the Fisherfield Forest – more popularly known as the Great Wilderness due to its isolation.
Despite extensive searches by members of the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team (DMRT), and other lifesaving groups, he was never found.
And, to mark the one year anniversary, the team has again vowed to continue in their efforts once coronavirus lockdown restrictions are finally lifted.
In a statement this week, a spokesman for the team said: "Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team are very mindful of the fact that a year has now elapsed since Martin Rhodes was last seen in Wester Ross.
They added: "The [Fisherfield Forest] area contains several of the most inaccessible Munros in Scotland and we believe that he intended to climb at least one of those peaks before returning to his hotel.
"Despite searches conducted by DMRT, Torridon Mountain Rescue Team, SARDA Scotland and helicopters from HM Coastguard and Police Scotland, Martin has not yet been traced."
DMRT's leader Iain Nesbitt added: "Martin's family and friends are very much on our minds at the present time. I would like to assure them that we will continue to search for him when it is once again possible for us to do so. A search had been planned for spring this year but current social distancing restrictions mean that has had to be postponed."
